Tom Dwyer and his sons Tobias, 17, and Yannik, 13, connected with 14 doves opening morning of Oklahoma's dove season Sunday.
Their German wirehaired pointers, Tank, 2, and Fee, 10, collected their birds for them -- and helped them find a couple that fell in a nearby treeline.
Their experience was typical of many this Opening Day. While some hunters reported 15-bird bags filled early in the day many more reported spotty flights or seeing no birds at all where typically there may be hundreds.
Storms and a wet summer likely cut bird populations somewhat. Later harvest this year also changed the landscape for bird hunting.
Dove hunting in the coming weeks could be good on fields as crops dry and harvests get under way.
Hunters should keep an eye out for cold weather systems that might create a "push" of migrating doves in coming weeks.
The season is open through Oct. 31 and again Dec. 21-29 statewide.
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Tank, a 2-year-old German wirehaired pointer owned by Tom Dwyer retrieves the first dove downed opening morning of Oklahoma's dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tom Dwyer collects his first dove of the season from his 2-year-old German wirehaired pointer, Tank, as his son, Yannik, 13, looks on, opening morning of dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tank, a 2-year-old German wirehaired pointer, pants in the heat opening day of dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tank a 2-year-old German wirehaired pointer, delivers a dove to hunters Tom Dwyer and his son Yannik, 13, opening morning of dove season, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tom Dwyer's German wirehaired pointers lap up water from his hand and a water bottle opening morning of dove season, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Fee, a 10-year-old German wirehaired pointer owned by Tom Dwyer brings in a dove retrieved opening morning of Oklahoma's dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tom Dwyer's German wirehaired pointers, Tank, 2, and Fee, 10, wait to retrieve birds opening day of Oklahoma's dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Assistant guide Neal Freeman takes a photo of the Tom Dwyer and his sons, Tobias, 17 and Yannik, 13, on opening morning of Oklahoma's dove season Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
Tom Dwyer and his sons Tobias, 17, left and Yannik, 13, right, pose with their opening morning's doves and German wire-haired pointers Tank, 2, left, and Fee, age 10 on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World
